Current Affairs - Update of 17.04.2020

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1. IPL 2020 suspended indefinitely

  • Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has suspended the Indian Premier League 2020 indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic
  • The IPL Governing Council of the BCCI has decided that the IPL 2020 Season will be suspended till further notice
  • The IPL 2020, was suspended until April 15, 2020 after the country went on a 21-day lockdown.

2. BSNL CMD P K Purwar took charge of MTNL

  • BSNL chairman and MD P K Purwar has taken over additional charge of Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited
  • This is the third time Purwar has been given the charge of MTNL CMD in the last six years
  • Purwar has taken over charge of CMD MTNL from April 15, 2020
  • The appointment comes at a time when both the PSU are reeling under heavy debt despite the government offering them a relief package.

3. IWF President Tamas Ajan resigned

  • Tamas Ajan resigned as the President if the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF)
  • Ajan, from Hungary, had been at the IWF since 1976, serving 24 years as General Secretary and 20 years as President
  • American Ursulu Papandrea will continue to lead the sort's governing body as Acting President.

4. Mascot for Hangzhou 2022 Asian Para Games

  • The mascot for the 4th Asian Para Games was unveiled in 16 April 2020. The design of 'Feifei' is inspired by the motif of the 'Divine Bird' in the Liangzhu Culture
  • The mascot is the fusion of Hangzhou's heritage and its drive for technological innovation
  • The 4th Asian Para Games will be held form October 9-15, 2022, featuring 22 sports with Taekwondo and Para-Canoe to make their debuts.

5. EPFO settled 3.31 lakh claims in 15 days

  • Employees' Provident Fund Organization, EPFO has professed 3,31,000 claims disbursing an amount of over Rs. 946 crore in just 15 days
  • The provision for a special withdrawal from the EPF Scheme as part of the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana package, has provided timely relief to the working class
  • In addition, 284 crore rupees have been distributed by the exempted PF Trusts under this scheme.

6. Rs 3,500 to each Arunachali stranded outside

  • Arunachal Pradesh government will provide Rs 3,500 to each Arunachali person stranded outside the state amid nationwide COVID-19 lockdown
  • Arunachali people stranded outside the state have to register themselves at a portal
  • The state government has also provided Rs 1,000 to all farmers registered under the PM-KISAN scheme.

7. Foodgrains production increased the target

  • The agriculture ministry aims to increase foodgrain production by 6.35 million tonnes, to record 298.3 million tonnes in the 2020-21 crop year
  • The ministry has set a target of 149.9 million tonnes of woodgrain production in the kharif or summer season and 148.4 million tonnes in the Rabi or winter season
  • Rice production target has been fixed at 117.5 million tonnes in 2020-21.

8. Online ASEAN Special Summit held

  • The online ASEAN Special Summit and ASEAN+3 Special Summit on COVID-19 response took place in Hà Nội on 14 April 2020
  • It was chaired by Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc, chairman of ASEAN and ASEAN+3
  • Leaders of the 10-nation bloc and their partners from three ASEAN partners, discussed measures and initiatives to strengthen co-operation in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

9. Centre released RS 7,300 crore under MGNREGS

  • Centre has released Rs 7,300 crore to the States and Union Territories under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS)
  • It has been done to liquidate pending dues of last financial year but also the wage dues for the first fortnight of 2020-21
  • Also, under the Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojna (Gramin), over 800 crore rupees has been released to the States.

10. SBI waived charges for ATM transactions

  • State Bank of India (SBI) will waive service charges for all ATM transactions made on SBI ATMs
  • This will also be applicable to other bank ATMs on account of exceeding free number of transactions up to 30th June 2020
  • SBI offers eight free transactions to regular savings bank account holders, including five transactions at SBI ATMs and three at other bank ATMs.